Alexander the Great was a legendary Ancient Greek general who is considered one of the greatest military commanders of all time. As his power grew, though, so did his sense of paranoia and megalomania. He considered himself to be a god, and had increasingly https://ecosoberhouse.com/ erratic behavior that led him to murder a close friend. Some historians attribute this behavior to alcoholism, which contributed to his untimely demise at age 32. Van Gogh was enamored with absinthe, and it featured in many of his paintings.
- Holiday suffered significant trauma as a child and later turned to prostitution, which led to an arrest for solicitation.
- She was arrested for drug possession in 1947 and ended up serving ten months in federal prison.
- I regret the necessity.” King’s not about to pretend he didn’t have struggles with alcohol, nor does he think he should hide it, either.
- During his younger years, Efron struggled with alcoholism and heavy drinking.
- By the mid-90s, they had reached international stardom with millions of record sales worldwide.
While rehab was great for helping him reach sobriety, Affleck spoke out about how supportive group meetings can help someone stay sober after treatment concludes. The tragic loss of a renowned celebrity or athlete to a drug or alcohol-related death is an event that often leaves many unanswered questions. Famous and much-loved celebrities such as Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, and Heath Ledger have been the victims of such unfortunate circumstances. While many deaths may be due to misuse of illegal substances, these drugs are not always illicit – and an overdose may not always be intentional. These celebrities illustrate that alcohol is often used to self-medicate — to alleviate life’s stressors. Their honesty about their struggles are both heartbreaking and endearing.
Robin Williams
She passed away on Monday night in a Johannesburg hospital at the age of 36, the public broadcaster, SABC, reports. In 2019, Zahara opened up about her battle with alcohol addiction. Morningside Recovery offers the full-spectrum of comprehensive addiction treatment in Orange County, CA.
He was later introduced to heavy metal music through his sister Mary, who was a fan of Black Sabbath. After a difficult childhood, she began singing in various nightclubs as a teen. Ultimately, it was there that she caught the celebrities who died of alcoholism attention of John Hammond, who liked her voice. She subsequently landed a recording deal with Brunswick Records in 1935. By the 1940s, she had recorded numerous hits, most of which had found their way onto music charts.
Alcohol Abuse Among Celebrities
It’s a part of who he is, and he’s been sober ever since his family intervention. Veronica Lake was an actress best known for her femme fatale film roles. She was very successful initially, but her career quickly declined, in part due to her drinking. Mel Gibson is an example of how a once-thriving career can quickly diminish following a series of offensive, alcohol-influenced rants that were caught on tape and made public. More recently, Robert Downey Jr., himself a recovering former alcohol and substance abuser, has made pleas to the public to forgive the beleaguered Mel Gibson and hasten his recovery.
- A South African court rules the president failed to comply with the law when recognising the new king.
- The actress credits support from her husband, in addition to the completion of an alcohol treatment program, in strengthening her resolve to remain sober for more than 10 years.
- Wracked by injuries, Mickey Mantle also drank to find relief.
- Still, most of the late 70s and 80s went by in a haze of alcoholism for King, who wrote in his memoir On Writing that he “barely remembers writing” his 1981 novel Cujo.
- She’s been sober since 2004 and spoke with GQ about her addiction in 2012.
- But to drink yourself to death, you really have to love drinking (or have some serious issues).
In an interview with a local radio last year, Zahara said her music was not for recognition but to bring comfort to broken souls that need healing. Michael Jackson, known all over the world as the King of Pop, died of cardiac arrest. According to reports, the cardiac arrest resulted from intoxication from benzodiazepines and Propofol. Jeff Hanneman was the lead guitarist of the thrash metal brand Slayer, which he’d helped establish back in 1981. Born in Oakland, California, he grew up in Long Beach where he often joined his brothers in constructing plane models.
Zahara: South African music icon dies aged 36
Harris had treatment through a combination of friends and support groups. Mixing illicit, prescription or over-the-counter medications can be dangerous, and patients should always rule out drug interactions with their healthcare provider. The use of prescription medications with illegal drugs or alcohol can produce an unpredictable and fatal response, and many deaths due to such circumstances may have been preventable. Death due to drugs can also be the result of mixing prescribed medications with other drugs (legal or illegal), alcohol, over-the-counter medications or even herbal supplements. Drug-drug interactions may also play a role in drug-related deaths.
In her eyes, Campbell would look and feel a lot worse if she was an alcoholic. Campbell struggled with alcoholism and drugs early in her career. Actor and comedian Verne Troyer, well known for playing Mini-Me in the ‘Austin Powers’ film series, died at the age of 49 in 2018. He had spent time in rehab to treat his alcoholism but following his death, it was ruled that he had taken his own life through alcohol poisoning. Williams is a unique celebrity because he didn’t go through addiction therapy or attend AA meetings to not drink alcohol.